ENGAGING TRADE MINISTERS IN UNCTAD XI

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000717

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

EB/MST FOR NISSEN
USTR FOR BOHLING
USMISSION GENEVA FOR KEHOE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD GT UNCTAD WTRO
SUBJECT: ENGAGING TRADE MINISTERS IN UNCTAD XI

REF: A. STATE 62119


B. STATE 51412


1. (SBU) Summary: UNCTAD is a traditional preserve of the
MFA, which is prone to G-77 views and rhetoric. The new Vice
Minister of Trade understands our concerns and plans to work
with the pro-trade Minister of Foreign Affairs to align
Guatemala's positions in UNCTAD with its Cairns Group agenda.
He has asked for a chance to work this internally, and we
will be following up. End Summary.


2. (SBU) EconCouns discussed preparations for UNCTAD XI
with Vice Minister of Economy for Integration and Trade
Eduardo Sperisen the evening of March 18. Sperisen, recently
returned to government with the inauguration of the Berger
Administration in January, had not followed developments in
UNCTAD for a number of years but was familiar and sympathetic
with the USG's general concerns. Sperisen said that the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs was traditionally responsible for
UNCTAD issues, noting that he had regularly sparred over
UNCTAD with MFA officials when he was Guatemala's PermRep to
the WTO. He further noted that the MFA official with whom he
had sparred in Geneva was the current Director General for
Multilateral Affairs, Amb. Carla Rodriguez. He confirmed
that the views of MFA careerists were generally stuck in G-77
and dependency school rhetoric whereas Guatemala's national
policies were aligned with the Cairns Group's free trade
agenda. He said it was a mistake to let the MFA have control
of any issues linked to trade policy.


3. (SBU) EconCouns asked Sperisen's advice on how best to
influence Rodriguez, whom Embassy knows quite well.
EconCouns wondered whether a quiet approach to Foreign
Minister Briz, former President of the Guatemalan Chamber of
Commerce and a committed free-trade advocate, might not be
the way to proceed. Sperisen said he liked the idea but
asked that we give him a chance to work through Briz before
contacting the MFA directly. Comment: Sperisen evidently
sees a chance to take control of the policy, not simply
influence Rodriguez. We believe that Briz will be a willing
ally, and we will follow up over the coming days to see where
matters stand. End Comment.
HAMILTON